Furnace



. "2 sheets-shawl. F. H. RICHARDS. I w FURNAOB.

Patented Mar. 1 ;-1895.

- (No Model.)

Witnesses: I

(No'MbdeL) 2 snet's-shet 2.

F. H. RICHARDS. FURNACE.

No. 535,406. Pate nted Mar. 12, 1895.

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llNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ECKLEY B. COXE, OF DRIFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,406, dated March 12, 1895.

Application filed October 4, 1894. Serial No. 524,900- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residingat Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to furnaces of the class described in Letters Patent of the United IO States No. 499,716, granted to Eckley B. Coxe June 20, 1893, in which a fuel-traveling grate is employed for carrying forward the fuel in the furnace-chamber and in which the fuel supported upon the grate is, during the traveling movement thereof, subjected to airblasts of varying pressures at successive points in the length of the furnace-chamber. In boiler-heating furnaces of this class as heretofore constructed and organized, the fuel-carrying run of the grate which constitutes the furnace floor proper has usually been located considerably below the boiler and furnace -chamber, and the airblast chambers have been located underneath the fuel-carryz 5 ing run of said grate outside of said furnacechamber. In consequence of this construction and organization, just described, it Was necessary to heat a considerable amount of surface before heated gases could be effectively utilized for heating the boiler. Also in furnaces of the class just described, it has been customary to have a direct draft, no provision being made for diverting the natural course of travel of the products of combus- 5 tion, and in consequence thereof considerable waste has been occasioned owing to the inefficient aeration and consequent imperfect oxidation of the combustible elements.

The object of my present invention is, pri 4o marily, to furnish an improved boiler-heating furnace in Whicha considerable portion of the combustion-chamber and the successive air-blast chambers are located Within the shell of and constitute a part of the boiler proper, 5 and in which the fuel-carrying run of the grate is supported for traveling movement within the combustion-chamber and above the lower line of and is inclosed by the shell of the boiler, thereby bringing the combus- 5o tion-chamber, boiler, grate and air-blast apparatus in such close relation as to secure a vide means whereby the gaseous products of the later stages of the combustion period are reverberated and carried toward the forward end of the furnace and there mingled with the products of the first stages of the combustion period at the ignition area of the furnace-chamber and in advance of the forward end of the boiler.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a boiler-heating furnace embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same as seen from the left hand in Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a vertical transverse section of the same taken in line aa, Fig. 1 looking toward the right hand in said figure.

Similar characters designate like parts in all of the figures.

The setting for the boiler B, which setting in thisinstance comprises the side-walls 2 and 4; endswalls 3 and 5, the arch roof A for the boiler and the arched roof 6 of the main or forward combustion-chamber C, may be of any suitable construction and arrangement for receiving the boiler and grate-mechanism and for providing a combustion-chamber of the requisite area at the forward end of said boiler. I

For convenience the entire area above the furnace-floor or grate will be herein termed the furnace-chamber, while that portion of said area in advance of the boiler B will be termed the main or forward combustion chamber, and that portion of said area con- 0 tiguous to the furnacefloor and in the rear of this combustion-chamber will be termed the reverberatory chamber-C.

The boiler 13, which is herein shown of the multi-flue type, is set in the furnace-chamber 5 near the rearward end thereof, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1, with the forward end of its flues in communication with the combustionchamber C.

As a convenient means of forming the reroo verberatory-chamber, C, so that the same will be inclosed for the major portion of its length by the shell of the boiler B, said boiler is provided, at a point inalignment and below its longitudinal axis, with a tube or flue, 8, of relatively large diameter. This flue extends from end to end of the boiler, it being practically closed at the rearward end thereof and having a diametrically semi-circular, or substantially semi-circular, extension, 8', at the forward end thereof which extends below the main combustion-chamber C, as shown most clearly in Fig. 1. This flue 8, not only constitutes a reverberatory-chamber adapted for diverting the course of travel of the volatile elements of combustion so as to cause them to traverse the ignition-area of the combustion-chamber O and mingle withthe gaseous products of the first stages of the com bustion period, but also constitutes an inclosing case for the fuelcarrying run of the traveling .grate, which fuel-carrying run constitutes the furnace-floor proper.

In the form thereof herein shown, the roverberatory flue 8 is secured within the shell of the boiler with its periphery remote from the shell and the relatively small flues, 8", of said boiler, said flue 8 being surrounded by water the same as the fines 8". In practice, the upper run of the traveling grate, which upper run constitutes the furnace-floor will be su pported for traveling movement approximately midway of the height of the reverberatorychamber C.

In the form thereof herein shown the fueltraveling grate is of the endless grate variety and will, preferably, be of a construction similar to the grate described in my prior application, Serial No. 519,730, filed August 8, 1894. It will be obvious, however, that I do not desire to limit myself to any particular construction and organization of grate-mechanism as these may be modified without de parture from my invention.

The endless grate which com prises the upper and lower runs 10 and 11, respectively, is shown carried at the opposite ends of the furnace by chain-wheels, 12 and 14, carried upon shafts, 13 and 15, respectively, journaled in suitable bearings at their ends. The forward shaft 13 is shown provided with a wormwheel 40, which meshes with a worm, 41, upon a driving-shaft, 42, journaled in bearings, 43 and 43, (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) which shaft is provided at the forward end thereof with a driving pulley, 44, which is driven by means hereinafter described. At the forward end of the furnace this is provided with the usual fuel-supply hopper II having its delivering end adjacent to the forward end of the fuel-carrying run of the grate, and at the rearward end of the reverberatory-chamber O is shown a bridgewall, v7, the lower face of which is in near proximity to the rearward end of the upper run of the fuel-traveling grate.

As a means for supplying air to the fuel upon the upper run of the traveling grate at varying pressures at successive points in the length thereof, which fuel is represented by dotted line 9 in Fig.1, I have provided an air-blast apparatus which is located underneath the fuel-carrying run of said grate. This air-blast apparatus, in the form thereof herein shown, comprisesa series of air-chambers, a, b, c, d, c andf, having outlet openings contiguous to the upper run of said grate, which air-blast chambers are located within, and preferably constitute a part of, the reverberatory-fiue S and the forward extension 8' thereof. As a convenient means of constructing these successive air-blast chambers, lower portions of the flue 8 and its forward extension 8' are shown divided transversely by a series of remotely-disposed vertical partitions, 16, which are flanged at their upper ends and terminate said upper ends at points in alignment with the lower face of the fuelcarrying run 10 of the grate, the flanged upper ends of said partitions constituting convenient supports for the middle portion of this upper run. In practice air is supplied to one of the air-blast chambers, herein shown as the one I), from a pipe, P, which receives its source of supply from a blower, E, as will be hereinafter more fully described, the other air-blast chambers a, c, d, e andf, respectively, receiving their supply of air from the chamber 1) through communicating openings, 17, in the interior partitions 16, as will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings. In the present instance the supply of air to the fuel is regulated at successive points in the length of the furnace-floor by varying the areas of the outlet openings of the successive air-blast chambers. It will be obvious, however, that means other than this just described may be employed for securing the requisite variation in air-supply at successive points in the length of the furnace-floor without departure from my present invention.

As will be seen by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the lower run 11 of the endless traveling grate is carried outside of and below the reverberatory-cl'iamber 0, it being preferably supported upon a longitudinallydisposed slide-way, 18,which, in the present instance, is in the nature of a trough open at its upper side and having the side-walls thereof secured to the boiler-shell each side of the traveling grate, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. This trough or slide-way will preferably extend from a point near the rear end of the boiler B to a point somewhat in advance of the front end wall of the furnace-chamber, the extreme frontend of said trough being of box-like construction, as shown at 18', and inclosing the forward end of the grate-mechanism. This slide-way 18 practically constitutes an air-seal, it cutting off communication between the furnace-chamber and the area below the grate-mechanism.

As a compact, simple and effective means, for actuating the grate, and for supplying air to the air-blast chambers, I have provided a blower, E concentric to and in direct connection with said power-shaft; a counter-shat t, E concentric to the power-shaft E and journaled at its forward end in a bracket, 20, and provided at this end with a pulley, 44', connected by a belt, 45, to the pulley 44 of the driving-shaft 42 of the grate-mechanism, and a speed-reducing apparatus,'E intermediate to and connecting the countershaft E with the power-shaft E. The operation of these several apparatus, which apparatus may be of any suitable construction will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

In operation, the fuel is fed to each section of the grate at or before it reaches the first air-blast chamber a of the series of air-blast chambers located underneath the fuel-carrying run of the grate as before described. The fuel is then carried along, maintained substantially in statu quo, over the succeeding chambers b, c, d, e andf, during which traveling movement the combustible material of the fuel is consumed and the resultantcinder or ash is afterward carried under the bridges wall 7 and finally delivered over the rearward end of the grate into the ash-pit2l. In practice the combustion goes on at one stage or another throughout the entire length of the furnace, or practically throughout the entire length of the fuel-carrying run of the grate, the ignition taking place at the point, or within a short distance of the point, where the fuel falls upon the grate, which in this instance, is directly above the air-blast chamber a which will be, as in the Patent No. 499,716 hereinbefore referred to, a relatively low-pressure air-blast chamber.

The particular amount of air-pressure required in the respective air-blast chambers to secure the requisite variation in air-supply at successive points in the fuel-supporting run of the traveling grate will be governed by the kind and condition of the fuel being burned.

For the purpose of regulating the supply of air to the successive chambers constituting the air-supply apparatus, sliding gates or valves may be provided contiguous to and adapted for closing the openings in the partitions between successive chambers, which gates may be of any usual or suitable construction and may be provided with means for operatingthe same outside of the furnacechamber.

During the successive stages of the combustion period the gaseous products of the later stages of the combustion period will rise within the reverberatory-chamber G and be carried along in said reverberatory-chamber toward the forward end of and be mingled with the gaseous products of the first stages of the combustion period, after which said intermingled products will rise and pass through the relatively small fiues of the boiler B and, after utilization, pass into the flue S at the rear end of the furnace.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a furnace of the class specified, aboiler having a reverberatory-chamber or flue located within the shell thereof, in combination with a fuel-traveling grate supported within said chamber or flue, means for actuating said grate, and means for forcing air at varying pressures into said chamber and through and from below the fuel carried by the grate and at successive portions of the length of the grate, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed within the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

2. In a furnaceof the class specified, a boiler having a reverberatory-chamber or flue located within the shell thereof, in combination with a fuel-traveling grate supported within said chamber or flue, means for actuating said grate, a series of air-blast-chambers located within said reverberatory-chamber and having outlet-openings contiguous to successive portions of the length of the grate and below the fuel-carrying run of said grate, and means for forcing air into said chambers, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence, and completely consumed Within the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

3. In a furnace of the class specified, a combustion-chamber located at the forward end of the furnace, a flue-boiler located rearward of the combustion-chamber and having a reverberatory-chamber within the shell thereof in communication at its forward end with the combustion-chamber, in combination with a fuel-traveling grate supported within and extending from end to end of the combustionchamber and the reverberatory chamber, means for actuating said grate to impart a traveling movement to the fuel supported thereon, and means for forcing air at varying pressures into said combustion-chamber and reverberatory-chamber and through and from below the fuel at successive points in the length of the grate, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed within the shell of the boiler, substan tially as described.

4. In a furnace of the class specified, the combination with a tine-boiler and its setting, of a combustion-chamber located in advance of the forward end of said boiler, a reverberatory-chamber or fine located within the shell of said boiler and communicating with said combustion-chamber, a fuel-traveling grate supported within and extending from end to end of the combustion-chamber and the reverberatory-chamber, means for actuating said grate to impart a traveling movement ICC to the fuel supported thereon, a series of successive air-blast chambers located within said combustion-chamber and reverberatorychamber and having air-outlet openings contiguous to successive portions of the length of the grate and below the fuel-carrying run of said grate, and means for forcing air into said chambers, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed within the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

5. In a furnace of the class specified, the combination of a combustion-chamber located at the forward end of the furnace, a flueboiler located in the rear of the combustionchamber and having a relatively-large reverberatory-flue located below and in alignment with the major axis of said boiler and in communication with the combustion-chamber, a series of relatively-small fines located above said relatively-large flue and communicating with the upper portion of said combustion-chamber, a fuel-traveling grate supported within and extending from end to end of the combustion-chamber and reverberatory-flue, means for actuating the grate to impart a traveling movement to the fuel supported thereon, and means for forcing air at varying pressures into said combustion-chamber and the reverheratory chamber and through and from below the fuel at successive points in the length of the grate, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed within the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

6. In a furnace of the class specified, the combination of a combustion-chamber located at the forward end of the furnace, a flueboiler located rearward of the combustionchamber and having a relatively-large reverberatory-fiue located below and in alignment with the major axis of said boiler and in communication with the combustion-chamber, a series of relatively-small fiues located above said relatively-large fiue and communicating with the upper portion of said combustion-chamber, a fuel-traveling grate supported within and extending from end to end of the combustion-chamber and reverberatory-flue, means for actuating the grate to impart a traveling" movement to the fuel supported thereon, a series of successive airblast chambers located within said combustion-chamber and reverberatory-chamber and having air-outlet openings contiguous to suecessive portions of the length of the grate and below the fuel-carrying run of said grate, and

means for forcing air into said chambers, substantially as described.

7. In a furnace of the class specified, a boiler having a reverberatory-chamber or flue located within the shell thereof, in combination with an endless grate the upper or fuel-carrying run of which is supported for traveling movement with the reverberatory chamber or flue and the lower run of which is supported below and outside of said reverberatory-chamber or flue, means for imparting a traveling movement to said endless grate, and means for forcing air at varying pressures into said chamber and through and from below the fuel carried by the upper run of the grate and at successive portions of the length of said upper run of said grate, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed within the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

8. In a furnace of the class specified, aboiler having a longitudinally-disposed reverberatory-chamber, in combination with an endless grate comprising an upper and a lower run the upper run of which is supported within the reverberatory-chamber and the lower run of which is supported outside of and below the shell of the boiler, a series of successive airblast-chambers located within said reverberatory-chamber and below the upper run of said endless grate and having outlet-openings contiguous to and below successive portions of the length of said upper run of said grate, means for imparting a traveling movement to said endless grate, and means for forcing air into said successive air-blast chambers, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed with the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

9. In a furnace of the class specified, a flueboiler having a reverberatory-flue divided transversely for a portion of its height by partitions to form a series of successive compartments or air-blast chambers, in combination with a fuel-traveling grate supported within said flue and having its fuel-carrying run above and closing the outlets from said chambers, means for actuating said grate to impart a traveling movement to the fuel supported thereon, and means for forcing air into said chambers, whereby the fuel is brought to a high state of incandescence and completely consumed within the shell of the boiler, substantially as described.

10. In afurnace havingacombustion-chamberlocated at the forward end thereof, a boiler located rearward of said combustion-chamber and embodying a reverberatory-chamber within the shell thereof which reverberatorychamber communicates with the combustionchamber, in combination with a grate or furnace-floor in position and adapted for carrying successive portions of alayer of fuel supported upon said grate through the successive combustion -areas of both the combustionchamber and the reverberatory-ehamber, means for actuating said grate or furnace-floor to impart a traveling movement to the fuel supported thereon, and air-supply apparatus located within said combustion-chamber and reverberatory-chamber and adapted for supplying air to the successive portions of the layer of fuel at varying pressures at successive points in the length of said grate during the traveling movement of said fuel, substantially as described and for the purpose set of the furnace, a flue-boiler located rearward of the combustion-chamber and having a reverberatory-chamber within the shell thereof, in combination with a fuel traveling grate supported within and extending from end to end of the combustion-chamber and reverberatory-chamber, means for actuating said grate to impart a traveling movement to the fuel supported thereon, an air-supply apparatus located within the combustion-chamber and reverberatory-chamber below the grate and comprising a relatively low-pressure air-blast chamber contiguous to the forward or ignition-end of the grate, a relatively high-pressure air-blast chamber joining the rearward end of said low-pressure air-blast chamber, and a series of successively and relatively reduced pressure air-blast chambers joining the rearward end of the relatively high-pressure air-blast chamber and located between said high-pressure air-blast chamber and the rear or delivering end of the grate, and means for supplying air to the successive air-blast chambers whereby air is supplied to the fuel upon the grate at varying pressures at successive points in the length of the grate during the traveling movement of the fuel, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a furnace of the class specified, in combination a combustion-chamber located near the forward end of the furnace, a flueboiler located rearward of the combustionchamber, a reverberatoryfiue located Within the shell of the boiler and extending from end to end thereof and having a forward extension located below the combustion-chamber, which extension is open at the upper side thereof, a fuel-traveling grate supported for movement between the side-walls of the reverberatory-flue and its forward extension, means for actuating said f uel-traveling grate,

a series of successive air-blast chambers located between the side-walls of the reverberatory-flue and its extension and having outlets contiguous to the grate, and means for supplying air to said chambers, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a furnace of the class specified, aboiler having a reverberatory-chamber or flue located within the shell thereof, in combination with an endless traveling grate carried upon chain-wheels at opposite ends of the boiler and extending through and under the reverberatory-chamber, a combined guide-wayand-air-seal located below the boiler and supporting the lower run of the endless grate, means for imparting a traveling movement to said grate, and means for supplying air at varying pressures to successive portions within said reverberatory-chamber, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a furnace of the class specified, the combination with the furnace-chamber and its inclosing-walls, of a fuel-traveling grate supported for movement within said furnacechamber, a series of air-blast chambers 1ocated beneath the fuel-carrying run of said grate, means for actuating said grate consisting of a driving-shaft for said grate, a counter-shaft journaled in bearings below said grate and operatively connected with said driving-shaft, an engine located below said grate and having a power-shaft and a speedreducing apparatus connecting the powershaft of the engine and the counter-shaft, and means for supplying air to the air-supply chambers consisting of a blower located intermediate to the engine and speed-reducing apparatus and connected with the powershaft of said engine, and an air-supply pipe connecting the blower with the air-supply chambers, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

' FRANCIS H. RICHARDS. Witnesses:

FRED. J. DOLE,

FREDERICK A. BOLAND. 

